Marks for money: NCCIA busts student record tampering scam at GCUF

The action was carried out by NCCIA Faisalabad on the directives of Punjab Director NCCIA Husam Bin Iqbal as part of an ongoing crackdown against cybercrime, financial fraud

LAHORE: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has uncovered an alleged academic record manipulation scheme at Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF), arresting two suspects accused of altering students’ marks, grades and attendance records in exchange for money.

The action was carried out by NCCIA Faisalabad on the directives of Punjab Director NCCIA Husam Bin Iqbal as part of an ongoing crackdown against cybercrime, financial fraud and the misuse of digital systems operated by educational institutions.

According to NCCIA officials, a technical examination of GCUF’s academic audit records identified 72 alterations involving the records of 33 students. The changes were reportedly linked to students enrolled in 12 different academic programmes, indicating that the alleged scheme may have affected multiple departments of the university.

The investigation began following a complaint filed by GCUF Deputy Registrar Rana Tanveer Ali. Investigators subsequently traced suspicious financial transactions and examined the digital activity associated with the alleged alterations.

Officials said the suspects allegedly demanded around Rs15,000 per subject from students in return for changing their marks, grades or attendance. In some cases, investigators found evidence of alterations involving more than one subject.

The financial trail reportedly led investigators to a JazzCash account, where payments from students were received before being moved through various intermediary and merchant accounts and eventually withdrawn in cash. Investigators also cross-checked payments made by several students against corresponding entries in the university’s grade-alteration audit records.

The two arrested suspects have allegedly played different roles in the operation. Ahsan Shafiq is accused of receiving payments, transferring funds through different accounts and withdrawing the money, while Noman Jafar, a former GCUF student with technical expertise in web development and online systems, is accused of gaining unauthorized access to the university’s online HOD portal and modifying students’ academic information.

During the initial technical examination of a Dell laptop recovered from Noman Jafar, investigators reportedly found evidence indicating access to the university’s HOD portal, along with saved login credentials associated with the system. Two mobile phones and the laptop were taken into custody as part of the investigation.

NCCIA officials said the suspects may have exploited a technical weakness in the university’s online system to gain unauthorized access and manipulate academic records. A comprehensive forensic examination of the seized devices and other digital evidence is now underway.

Investigators are also working to determine whether additional students were affected, establish the total amount of money allegedly received, and identify any other individuals who may have facilitated or participated in the scheme.

NCCIA Faisalabad has registered Case No. 113/2026 against the suspects under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the Pakistan Penal Code. Further investigation is being conducted by Sub-Inspector Asad Iqbal.

Punjab Director NCCIA Husam Bin Iqbal said the agency would continue taking action against individuals involved in tampering with educational records, unlawfully accessing institutional digital systems and attempting to undermine merit for financial gain.

He stressed that strict legal measures would be pursued against those involved in activities that could jeopardize students’ academic careers and misuse digital platforms for unlawful purposes.